University of Colorado officials decided to bring back football coach Dan Hawkins for a fifth season Thursday with no stipulations for changes in his coaching staff and without setting a target number of wins for next season.

But a renegotiation of his contract, which runs through Jan. 31, 2013, could be in the works with an eye toward giving the school more flexibility if the results on the field do not improve.

Citing a need for stability and continuity and the results Hawkins' players have produced in the classroom, athletic director Mike Bohn said he and Chancellor Phil DiStefano chose to give their football coach another year to show improvement in the Big 12 standings.

Hawkins' team is 3-8 and will conclude its fourth consecutive losing season today at home against rival Nebraska, which will be playing for the Big 12 championship next week in Arlington. Texas. Hawkins is 16-32 as coach of the Buffs. His tenure has been the most unsuccessful time in the program in the past 25 years.

Bohn apologized to his football coaches and his football team Thursday morning after returning from a trip to Hawaii, where he had been supporting the men's basketball team in its first appearance in the prestigious Maui Invitational tournament.

Bohn said he felt it was inappropriate that players and coaches heard through the news media about his decision to retain Hawkins before hearing it from him in person. Bohn said he and the chancellor met with Hawkins and then all three addressed the team.

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"I am very proud of our young men and I'm proud of their engagement and their desire to continue to build their passion for the program that they're a part of," Bohn said.

The school issued a press release in which DiStefano referred to the decision as Bohn's.

"I want all CU fans, supporters, and members of the University community to know that I support athletic director Mike Bohn's decision to honor coach Hawkins' contract and believe this decision is in the best interests of the University of Colorado at Boulder," DiStefano said.

Later, during an interview with the Camera, Bohn explained he made the decision in concert with DiStefano. Hawkins was not available for comment.

DC: Why did you decide to retain Dan Hawkins when his track record, at least in some regards, indicates you should not?

MB: "I firmly believe that the power of stability comes from continuity and I'm convinced that the commitment from our students athletes to continue to play hard for their coach, despite a lot of public criticism has been consistently demonstrated. I believe that Dan retains the potential to be the caliber of coach on and off the field that we hired him to be, and his ability to lead this program to the heights that we all expect."

DC: Who made this decision?

MB: "Mike Bohn does not make any major decision, or for that matter any decision of significance, without the full engagement of campus leadership. So that involves whether it's a facility project, a budget project, a personnel issue, any of those. And that process has served me very, very well in my tenure here. One of the things I've tried to do is rally a lot of constituents on campus, whether that is faculty, student leadership, central administration. Therefore that process was the same as it would be with any other issue of importance that impacts the entire campus, not just athletics. We've worked very hard to be a fabric of the institution and in no way, shape or form would I ever make a decision without continuing to build and foster that collaborative spirit and support that we receive from campus and the system office as well."

DC: In the press release you sent out, the chancellor referred to this as your decision. Is your fate now tied to Dan Hawkins?

MB: "I'm evaluated on an annual basis associated with all aspects of the athletic program, not just the status of one particular coach. However, I recognize that football is our marquee sport and maybe receives more weight than others."

DC: Did you know when you left town for the Maui Invitational that Dan Hawkins would be meeting with Phil DiStefano?

MB: "Yes. Phil and I have collaborated along with other campus leaders on this process and other major decisions on campus all along."

DC: Were you told you have to keep Dan Hawkins as your coach?

MB: "No. I engaged, as athletic director, in collaboration with first the chancellor, other leaders on campus. We have two faculty oversight committees. We have other leaders within the campus hierarchy that we engage with, and, again, those relationships and that process has served us well in the past. It served us well on this decision, and we will continue to utilize that process."

DC: Last week when we talked to you after the Oklahoma State game, you indicated that no decision would be made or announced until after the season was over. Why did you decide to make an announcement before the final game?

MB: "Because the speculation was growing to the point that it was such a distraction and I think if you look back, I have been supportive of Dan all along. It got to the point where the speculation was time for us to end that speculation so that Dan and the football team could do their business and focus on business."

DC: How much of a factor in the decision were the financial concerns of possibly firing Dan Hawkins?

MB: "Money is always a consideration in big time college football. However, it wasn't the determining factor. The bottom line was, is Dan Hawkins the right coach for CU at this time and for the institution during a complex environment? The answer is yes."

DC: Will Dan Hawkins have to make any changes to his coaching staff?

MB: "There are no stipulations associated with Dan's return. However, Dan and I will be reviewing all aspects of the program to look for opportunities for us to improve or enhance the program."

DC: Have there been or will there be any changes to Dan Hawkins' contract with the university in relation to this decision?

MB: "We have no announcement or movement related to that at this time."

DC: Is that a possibility in the near future?

MB: "I think it's inappropriate to speculate on that."

DC: Did Dan Hawkins make any promises or concessions in terms of your discussion about bringing him back for a fifth year?

MB: "No, but as I said in the release, we continue to have constructive and candid discussions regarding all aspects of the football enterprise."

DC: There are at least some fans out there already saying that the school's and the athletic department's expectations for the football program are too low, and this decision proves that. What do you say to them?

MB: "Our competitive resolve has never been stronger. And as Phil said in his statement, making a change at this particular time, we believe, takes us further away from our goal than closer to it. But our competitive resolve and our passion and our desire to build a program all of our fans can be proud of is at the highest level."

DC: What do you say to those fans who are either saying that they will not renew their season tickets, club seats or suites or they are considering not renewing?

MB: "I recognize that we have a schism associated with our fan base, but the program, whether it's any program across the country that is going through similar challenges, is bigger than any coach, administrator or leader on campus and collectively our program will improve faster for the long haul when all of our constituents are helping us grow in the same direction. That's the norm across the country with programs that are in similar situations that we are, and I anticipate that our fans will continue to be the heartbeat that makes a different just like they did against Kansas and against Texas A&M. It's about the program. It's about the institution as a whole. The program is bigger than any of us."

DC: What are the expectations for next year considering you will be facing a more difficult schedule than what you faced this year?

MB: "Being a contender in the Big 12 is definitely on the list, along with an favorable APR. A continued commitment to the community that has so much invested in our program. I will not put a number on wins and losses because we all know that other variables at different times enter into those decisions."

DC: If you are not willing to say that at least a winning record or bowl appearance is the minimum expectation, doesn't that indicate that those fans out there saying that the department and the school's expectations are too low are right?

MB: "I said being a contender in the Big 12. What does that mean to you? That starts with our division, right?"

DC: What sort of feedback and response have you received on the positive side of this decision?

MB: "The feedback is varied obviously, but there is a tremendous amount of positive feedback as well. People recognize that the program is something they're passionate about and they want to see us improve. That's why we're asking our fan base to help us collectively to pull together to support the program. When all of our fans are on the same page and making a difference for us, good thing happens. Case in point, the Kansas game. A rabid environment, positive feedback, enthusiastic support of the defense. All those things."

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